prescription for living
by Bernie Siegel, MD
Commencements
I
have learned that life is a series of beginnings. I know we have losses and changes in our lives but with each change we begin a new existence. When we finish a book we begin to use the information contained within it. When a loved one dies we begin a new life without them. Graduation ceremonies are called commencements not terminations. So be open minded and begin to see the awe and wonder of life which surrounds you. As a four year old I had a Near Death Experience (NDE) choking on the pieces of a toy I had taken apart and put in my mouth. I left my body and watched myself dying and thought nothing of the fact that I was out of my body but still seeing what was happening. I was used to being able to see. Then I heard and read about children who were blind from the time of their birth, but were able to see when they had a NDE. Some were upset when they were resuscitated, returned to their bodies and were blind again. More controlled studies are being done on the effects of prayer on the sick. Those prayed for, even when unaware they are being prayed for, benefit over the control group. There are many questions we probably will never be able to answer including what makes our brain work. We anesthetize people every day and yet really don’t know how it changes the nervous system so people are unconscious and pain free. Hypnosis can also be utilized to perform major surgery free of pain. How do we manage these changes? I don’t bring these things up to confuse you but to remind you that when you touch someone’s body you are touching more than just the physical aspects of that person. When a physician treats a disease, it is not the diagnosis he is treating but the person’s experience. Physicians must listen to the patient’s description of their affliction. Then you are caring for the patient and not simply treating a disease or diagnosis. If a physician treats only the disease, he will be focusing on the technical and physical aspects of the problem and not caring for or about the deeper significance and meaning present. As a matter of fact I have met people who don’t want to be relieved of their disease because it gives them the freedom and permission to live differently and they don’t want to go back to their former lives. By helping
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Natural Nutmeg October 2011
them to change you can restore health and help them to rebirth and reparent themselves and be ready for a new and healthy life free of afflictions. The hands on treatment can be the way you enter into a person’s life and the beginning of true healing. Both of you need to enter a trance state to have true healing occur. In that state energy can be transmitted through you to the person you are touching. When the person you are touching enters this state of healing with you, changes occur in their physiology and healing occurs. I use the word healing, not curing, to point out that we are talking about more than the relief of physical symptoms. We are looking at the whole person and treatment of their body and soul. Having experienced this when touched by many therapists, but particularly our son, I can tell you it is a real happening. These changes can be measured physiologically even when we can’t explain how or why they happen. True healers are simply the conduit for the energy and consciousness of creation to pass through. So when you touch someone let yourself be that pipeline that allows the energy to flow into the person in need you are treating. You will find that now your work doesn’t drain your energy and two people will be healed because the person you are caring for will also be giving something back to you as you heal them, their new found energy. Bernie holds a support group in Simsbury at Wisdom of the Ages the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm. Wisdom of the Ages, a special place to nurture your spiritual side. It's filled with items to calm the mind, heal the body & empower your spirit. They also provide massages & monthly meditation classes. Wisdom of the Ages is owned by Bernie's son & daughter- in-law, Keith & Jane Siegel. Located at 1408 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury. Please call for info or to register for Bernie's group. (860) 651-1172, www. wisdomoftheages.biz, berniesiegelmd.com. See ad on 30. Bernie also runs a Woodbridge Support Group which meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday evenings of each month at Coachman's Square, Bradley Road, Woodbridge, CT. Contact: Lucille Ranciato at 203-288-2839 or email her at lranciato@yahoo.com.
